Atalanta Executives Top The List At Italian Trade Commission Hall Of Fame Ceremonies

Company's Commitment to Supporting the Sales and Marketing of Quality, Authentic Italian Food is Recognized by Prestigious Italian Governmental Trade Agency

Atalanta Corporation led the way with six honorees at the Italian Trade Commission Distinguished Service Award ceremonies this past week in New York. George Gellert, Atalanta Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, was inducted into the Italian Trade Commission Hall of Fame; Salvatore Mazzella, who runs the Atalanta cheese division and was instrumental in launching the Italian program for the company, received a Gold Award Certificate; and Margaret Cicogna, the 'Contessa' of Italian cheeses who helped get the Atalanta Italian specialty foods division started, Fred Chesman, one of the pioneers of the imported Italian cheese business; Tom Gellert and Andy Gellert (sons of George Gellert and executives at Atalanta) received Platinum Award Certificates.

The awards ─ created under the auspices of the Italian Ministry for Economic Development by the Italian Trade Commission ─ honor individuals who have contributed to the awareness, education and sales success of authentic, quality Italian food products in the US, and those who highlight Italian specialty foods in their portfolios. "In presenting the 2010 Distinguished Service Awards to professionals who have played a key role in creating the success of the Italian food business in this country, we want to recognize first and foremost the achievements of those who took initiative against all odds, even when Italian food was not as popular in the US as it is today," said Italian Trade Commissioner Aniello Musella. "Appropriately, this ceremony coincides with the opening of the Summer Fancy Food Show where this year over 400 Italian food companies will be in attendance." Atalanta is the largest single exhibitor at the Show with over 30 booths.

"As the largest importer of specialty foods from Italy, we at Atalanta are proud to be honored by the Italian Trade Commission with not one but four awards," said Mr. Gellert. "We take great pride in the business ─ and especially the relationships ─we have cultivated over the years with leading Italian specialty food producers." Mr. Gellert, who earned his BS, MBA and JD degrees at Cornell University, joined Atalanta in 1965, was appointed vice president in 1969 and was named president in 1973. He is a member of the World Presidents Organization and a recipient of the Ernst & Young 'Entrepreneur of the Year" Award.

Born in 1937, Salvatore ('Sal') Mazzella has been in the food business since his teens. With parents from Ischia who ran a fruit store in Manhattan's 'Hell's Kitchen,' Sal has deep roots in Italy and a great appreciation for its food products. In addition to Atalanta's cheese business, Sal oversees Atalanta group company Tipico. A native Italian, Margaret Cicogna is one of America's leading authorities on Italian cheese and has strong personal relationships with many of Italy's best cheese producers. Together with his father, Fred Chesman was the first in America to import and warehouse cheeses from Italy and to use mechanical refrigeration, and the first major importer of Parmigiano Reggiano, Provolone and Romano.

About Atalanta
Since 1945, Atalanta (www.atalanta1.com) has been a driving force in food importing and international trading. In a world populated by millions of food producers and international traders, Atalanta has the financial strength, the international trading know-how, and the marketing expertise to seek out and deliver the world's finest harvests. Atalanta is a member of the Gellert Global Group, whose member companies have been importing food products for ove

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Sara Gorelick
SGorelick@colangelopr.com